Session 3
Roots of Religion and Morality
The God Delusion   by Richard Dawkins
"It is often said that there is a God-shaped gap in the brain which needs to be filled: we have a psychological need for God - imaginary friend, father, big brother, confessor, confidant - and the need has to be satisfied whether God really exists or not. But could it be that God clutters up a gap that we'd be better off filling with something else?"

Index Commentary Discussion References
Commentary -
Summary of Discussion Notes
There was a report of a pastor and imam becoming friends in Nigeria after previous experience of hate. They had used their scripture now as a help in loving not hating each other. This from the U of C where the visitors from Nigeria will be at meetings tomorrow.

I find this is reaffirming my faith. I wrote in the margins "He hedges his bets almost certainly. He's not sure." I know what I know so his not knowing is affirming.

A change for me. I am used to business books. I'm learning new words. Nothing like this since university. Interesting to see the evolution-creation issues.

Learning some suprising things about scriptural claims.

Spong is taking the scissors to scripture.

I take offense that Dawkins assumes all christians are the one stereotpe.

Dawkins is right, but here, he's preaching to the converted. Does he actually believe there are no moderates?

Dawkins appears to say that only evolution counts. I've read all Jay Gould's books. I'm a fan.

My agnostic son wishes he could believe.

Dawkins is over-reaching to get the point across.

The gap of pew and pulpit respecting the seminary knowledge that didn't promulgate.

Morality is inate. I agree with Dawkins.

Inate right and wrong in each person. Perhaps that's God's doing. That's why God can't be outside. Because each of us has a conscience.

Dawkins says religion is not in fact the source. He ignores context. I saw a women in a mink coat recently. 30 years ago it would have been different.

Isaac's sacrifice story can be positive - namely that no more will there be human sacrifice.

In some ways the secular movement is ahead of the church.

The 10 commandments have been accepted by most.

Religions have done good and bad.

You can have good without religion.

The greatest miracle is no miracles! That's a mind stopper. A reference to the laws of the universe replace a divine will that can be capricious and open to petition. We are disposed towards miracles. The suffering god is in our tradition. That god suffers with us.

Quite a shift between chapters 6 and 7. Not allowing the religions the same tools as the science.

Forget about science and religion. Why are we good?

Truth cannot be contained.
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